Vietnam extends link to one-stop-shop portal

Vietnam aims to have 80% of import-export formalities to be carried out via one-stop-shop by the first quarter of next year, towards a transparent public administration.

The implementation of a one-stop-shop mechanism is part of Vietnam’s international integration roadmap. It aims to keep up with the rapid development of international trade, save time and costs for business, and make it easier for state governance, trade, and e-commerce.

Effective system

Since the one-stop-shop project was launched by the General Department of Customs 3 years ago, 47 formalities of 11 ministries and sectors have been logged in to the portal and another 100 will soon be added.

The system saved US$200 million for businesses last year, according to Pham Duyen Phuong, Deputy Director of the Information Technology and Statistics Department at the General Department of Customs. “The one-stop-shop mechanism saves time and money for businesses. It’s more important that as the electronic system restricts contacts between businesses and state management agencies, it also reduces corruption, red tape and inconveniences. On the other hand, state governance will improve because of more transparent and reliable information being handled, ” he said.

Registering the one-stop-shop portal, preparation time is reduced by 30 hours from 106 hours per import dossier and by 33 hours per export dossier. Nguyen Hai Anh, Director of IEA Import-Export Company, explained, “Previously, import-export licenses were submitted to customs agencies in person. Now, the procedures are carried out online, saving time, energy, and manpower and enhancing business competitiveness.”

Comprehensive reform towards transparent administration

The government aims to have Vietnam in the top 4 countries with most favorable competition environment in ASEAN. Vietnam is fine-tuning its legal frameworks to speed up links to the national one-stop-shop portal. 80% of formalities are set to be cleared via one-stop-shop by the first quarter of next year and all by 2020. In addition, the list of commodities subject to specialized inspections will be cut by half.

Vietnam has actively joined ASEAN’s efforts in implementing the regional one-stop-shop portal, which is approved by 8 of the 10 members.